Sticky Doc Bio Filter

[fishin4cars]

I dont see why it would be too big. Wider pipes means slower water, which is a good thing here. Not sure how wide your tank is, but 1.5 inch pipes wouldnt likely make much difference in volume.

I bought 1 1/2" thinking it needed to be smaller than the out put but when I got back and started reading I saw that 3/4" was what was used in the original Doc. filter.



It ought to work, but not as good as a big tank obviously, especially not if its not very high, which brings us too...


How high is your tank? The only problem is losing filter media, but if you arent concerned about that, why would there be an issue? In fact I think its better to dedicate an entire barrel as vortex and keeping it empty, or at most with brushes to trap solids, and using subsequent tanks for the biofiltration. You can combine it in one tank, but it wont be as effective. The more height/time you have before reaching the biological filter, the better.

The can is 48" Like I said its for a small pond with low stocking. I have the filter that is already established so I know it will run on what I have now, this is more experimental and seeing if I can get something better going on than I have now. Going to make a little more modifications as time goes by. this is just getting me more aquainted with what and how it does so I can plan for the bigger future build. I figure a 35 gallon filter for a 300 gallon pond has to be better than two box filters that have to be cleaned one every two weeks so one can carry the load while the other is re-establishing itself. Really wanting to get away from inpond filtering all together.

I used 3/4" for my input.

I noticed after I got home with the supplies. I should have made a list but I went from memory as I was there for something else and at the spur of the moment decided to try and build one myself.

i used 1&1/2" in both of my filters.......works beautiful. the larger pipe lets more water flow out with less force. this lessened force enables particles to drop from suspension and settle to the bottom quicker and easier. more force (faster flow) keeps the particles in suspension longer allowing them to travel up into the filters media further.

sounds like it should be ok then. figure I can only improve as the pump for this filter is only being used for circulation now. I'm going to leave the filter that is on it running until I see how this does and make sure that it has enough bacteria growing in it to take the pond over on it's own.

 

[DrDave]

Take photos as you go and others can benefit from your efforts.

 

[fishin4cars]

Already started doing that, Will take more once I'm actually putting it together for the final test. Got a question. One of you used irrigation tubing. I was thinking since my Bio area is kind of small & I had about 250ft of 1/2" pvc scrapes I could cut up I was thinking about using aprox. 3-6 inches of them cut up into 1 inch pieces as a layer. I can get some filtering material similar to matala/J matting real cheap! My dealer sells me 3'x3'x 1" thick pieces for $6 I'm not sure that multiple layers of this would be a good idea or not. I Think I will make it the top layer if I do decide to use it in case I have to remove and disconnintue using it for some reason.. I was planning on using a layer of this as I can make it fit snug. Any thoughts on this? I will still need to have another layer aprox. 5-8 inches to fill with a third layer. Trying to decide in what order would be best, and something else like the scrubbies or similar I can get my hands on cheap. So far I have $40 invested plus what I had here to work with. LOL This is kind of cool trying to put something effecient together for the minimal amount spent. BTW, Still have to buy a 2" valve for the bottom drain. I have a 3/4" for now to test with for leaks. I'll just unscrew it and screw on a 2" once I go get it and a short stick of 2' pipe. Going to be about 13" short with what I had here. lol Once last thing I was concidering, has anyone injected air into this at all and if so where? I know can't go all the way to the bottom as this would disrupt the buildup at the bottom for flushing out.

 

[DrDave]

I used 1/2" irrigation tubing cut 1 1/4" in my first Doc Bio Filter. It worked incredibly well. I stopped using it to try the fencing which also works.

 

[fishin4cars]

I'm thinking about a multi layer system. I can't use the fencing as you did in here due to height. I can cut it in shorter strips which is a simple mod. I was thinking about doing a layer of cut up PVC about 4 inches deep, Then something like fencing, plastic strapping, scrubbie pads, etc then a matala/j-matting and if needed another piece of grating. Going to be tight. I had to even make the container size slightly smaller for the output bulkhead, First spot I could heat and make straight enough to get a seal. The actual filter media area is going to end up being 18" deep from the bottom grating to the out put hole, So I'm figuring I need to keep that top pad about a inch or so below the bulkhead. I now understand why the drum works better than I did before I started.
It's going to be slow this weekend.Got company this weekend for mother's day, Grilled burgers today and Boiling crawfish tomorrow. May play some early with it after clean the big pond skimmer, then chill out by/in the pool once it gets hot........lol:surfing:

 

[vertigo72]

I had to even make the container size slightly smaller for the output bulkhead, First spot I could heat and make straight enough to get a seal.

Just put in a 90 degree elbow to go up inside the barrel (and if the bulkhead is really low, add some pipe straight up. If your barrel is tapered like mine, you may want to cut the elbow at an angle.

 

[fishin4cars]

Just put in a 90 degree elbow to go up inside the barrel (and if the bulkhead is really low, add some pipe straight up. If your barrel is tapered like mine, you may want to cut the elbow at an angle.

?? Lost me, Don't understand what you mean. ??

 

[koiguy1969]

he means off your output on the inside of filter...you can put an elbow and even a short length of pipe to increase your filters volume! (capacity)

 

[vertigo72]

Indeed. See pic.

 

[fishin4cars]

he means off your output on the inside of filter...you can put an elbow and even a short length of pipe to increase your filters volume! (capacity)

Oh, Ok Too early in the morning, lol Yea, Once I woke up enough I see now what vertigo was saying, great ideas! I can do that! Not glue the up pipe and cut it to the correct height once all is running to get maximum volume. Just elbow up and a adjustment pipe. Just curious why would you cut a 90 at a angle, To get the correct height if the up turned elbow alone brought the water level too high?

 

[fishin4cars]

Indeed. See pic.

Got it! Thanks!!! Off to Lowes I go! Will take some pics today!

 

[koiguy1969]

like i did here on my tetrapond filter conversion....notice the little grid in the elbow to stop any media from escaping. its a little piece of light grate and hardware fencing cut to fit and held in by a ring of pipe pressed in

 

[fishin4cars]

Why the screen/grating inside?

 

[koiguy1969]

reread my last post...i added your answer while you were posting too!....but i didnt mention that the filter will be using cut up drinking sraws as part of its media content.

 

[vertigo72]

Just curious why would you cut a 90 at a angle, To get the correct height if the up turned elbow alone brought the water level too high?

No, my barrel sides are angled, tapered, whatever you call it. Its wider at the top than at the bottom. So my bulkhead is at an angle too, and the pipe I put in it as well. I can make it horizontal by cutting the 90 pipe so it becomes a.. ~100 degree angle so I pull water horizontally again. Thats hardly crucial, but especially for my first tank which acts as vortex, I like to skim only the water surface as high as possible.